Men’s Basketball mounts second half comeback to top Framingham State, 64-60

North Adams, MA- Noah Yearsley scored 18 of his game-high 24 points in the second half to lift MCLA past Framingham State this afternoon, 64-60. With the win MCLA improves to 6-7 (2-1 MASCAC) while Framingham State falls to 4-13 (1-2 MASCAC).

Both teams struggled out of the gate to find a rhythm offensively but a Jaleen Carroll putback at the buzzer would give the visiting Rams a slim 26-25 edge at the intermission.

Framingham State would find their offensive stride coming of the locker room going on a 19-5 run which was capped off by a Joshua Daniel-Okafor layup that put the Rams up 45-31 with 13:25 to play.

MCLA would chip away over the next eight minutes and go on a 21-7 run of their own to catch the Rams at 52-52 after a pair of Yearsley free throws.

A Jayden Mills 3-pointer would put MCLA up 55-54 but the lead would be short-lived as Framingham State's Juran Ligonde would score the next five points to push the Rams out to a 59-55 advantage with just over three minutes to play.

An old fashion 3-point play by Mamadou Diallo would draw the Trailblazers to within one but a Ligonde free throw with just over two minutes left in regulation would give the Rams a 60-58 lead. On the ensuing possession, two more free throws from Yearsley would draw the game even at 60-60.

After a big defensive stop by the MCLA defense, Brian Perez would put the Trailblazers up 62-60 on a jumper with 1:12 left.

On the next possession Yearsley would make the defensive play the game stepping in to take a charge with only :41 seconds left. MCLA would turn the Rams over again and hit the necessary free throws to walk away with a 64-60 league win.

Okafor would lead Framingham State with 13 points. Marshall Martin would finish with 12 points and 8 rebounds while Ligonde and Jahden Erold each chipped in 11 points.

Yearsley added 7 rebounds to his game-high 24 points while Diallo registered a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Reece Racette (8 points and 8 rebounds) and Perez (7 points) were also key contributors.

Salem State will be the next opponent for both teams as the Vikings will host MCLA on Wednesday and travel to Framingham a week from today.